Motor Trend's $28K Bang for the Buck (spoiler alert!)

[GoSharks]

Great read, pumped even more as I am expecting to take delivery by next Tuesday. Thanks for posting!

BRZ Limited MT WRB

[ngabdala]

Lmao I have an account there. I think I will repost this article

Originally Posted by Exhaust

I wonder how pissed the genesis coupe forums are right now lmao

[Dimman]

Originally Posted by Capt Canuck

And he complained about the engine in the M3 during the comparo with the Mustang GT.

He's obviously a pro (literally) but I get the feeling he's a previous generation's driver and not someone Motortrend should be wheeling out to test cars in the 21st century.

When I find out about what race drivers choose for their daily drivers, it seems that half of them are what I would consider a 'driver's' car like an M3 (Tanner Foust) which is what I expect, the others are more fast comfortable GT or sedans like AMGs (Tony Kanaan, I think). I think Randy is in the second group.

However based on driving style, 10 internet bucks says M.Schumacher would pick the FR-S.

[Dimman]

Originally Posted by ngabdala

Lmao I have an account there. I think I will repost this article

I also doubt they will be slow to point out that it was also faster around the track than the twins. Plus Pobst didn't exactly rip on it. Praised its midrange, high speed handling, in fact.

[DEnd]

Originally Posted by Dadhawk

I'm happy with the results overall.

Here comes my slightly biased comment. It sounded like Randy, who's supposed to be this driver's driver kinda guy, was complaining, "I didn't like the FR-S as much because it made me actually drive it through the corners rather than just leaning in and taking care of it for me". Then again, I am paraphrasing....

On a perfect track in a perfect world, you shouldn't have to "drive" a vehicle through a corner, with anything other than throttle inputs. If you are having to do steering corrections to keep the car going where you want it then you are losing time.

[Exhaust]

Originally Posted by Dimman

Still straight-line ****y, I would bet.

Hey they have to justify all those horse stuffed under that hideous exterior some how

Originally Posted by Chupacabra

It doesn't matter anyway. If there was a forum war between the two of us, the BRZerhood has this in its possession:



Who has turbo now???!!

What is that a BRaZer Cannon?? or maybe a FRaSer Cannon ... i like BRaZer better

Originally Posted by ngabdala

Lmao I have an account there. I think I will repost this article

I think you should, just to get a rise

[Chupacabra]

Originally Posted by Exhaust

What is that a BRaZer Cannon?? or maybe a FRaSer Cannon ... i like BRaZer better

Yes, 'tis the BRZer Cannon. It's actually a light rail gun.

[TriForce]

Thanks for the scans Dadhawk, great thread as always and a fascinating read

[Turbowned]

Thanks Dadhawk! Read this article last night but I wasn't sure if it was one here yet. Twins FTW! I knew who the winner was before even opening the front cover

As far as the BRZ beating out the FR-S, I'm sure the victory was marginal at best. It's obvious that most of them preferred the driving dynamics of the BRZ, but not everyone favors the same setup. Some like a car to be a little more loose, more precise and on the edge, like the FR-S. Some want a little more control, maybe a little more margin for error like the BRZ. Especially if you're just getting in the car and haven't had time to get comfortable with the setup, it makes sense that the more neutral BRZ was preferred. If they spent a week with the cars, who knows what the results may have been?

What I think really won it over the FR-S is just how good of a value the options are for the money. For $2-3k you get a ton of equipment which is great, if you want it. And if you don't want it, well it's good that there's an option to do without! Now if they'd just being the RC Spec bare bones model over for the track guys to take full advantage of!

I hereby award the BRZ and FR-S the Ultimate Warrior Award of Supreme Awesomeness and Stuff: We are number 1!

[Tino]

I can't wait to get my FR-S!!!!

[Dadhawk]

Originally Posted by Turbowned

...What I think really won it over the FR-S is just how good of a value the options are for the money. For $2-3k you get a ton of equipment which is great, if you want it. And if you don't want it, well it's good that there's an option to do without! Now if they'd just being the RC Spec bare bones model over for the track guys to take full advantage of!

I agree with your assessment on this. The difference in the equipment between the FR-S and the BRZ (for me) is meaningless because I don't care about it. If I did, the BRZ is the better value. Also, the BRZ is about the price point I was looking at, and the FR-S met it.

I also happen to fall into the group that prefers the driving characteristics of the FR-S. Reminds me of a current age fighter plane. Fighters are good at what they do because they are naturally unstable. It's the combination of the flight computers and the pilot that make them perform.

If an F-22 had the equivalent of a "hold the sport button down for 3 seconds" mode, it would basically be unflyable by most pilots.

The BRZ, in a VERY LOOSE way, is closer to a general aviation plane where the stability is built into the aerodynamics of the airplane. Let go of the controls and they will tend to stabilize in flight.

[Turbowned]

Originally Posted by Dadhawk

I also happen to fall into the group that prefers the driving characteristics of the FR-S. Reminds me of a current age fighter plane. Fighters are good at what they do because they are naturally unstable. It's the combination of the flight computers and the pilot that make them perform.

If an F-22 had the equivalent of a "hold the sport button down for 3 seconds" mode, it would basically be unflyable by most pilots.

The BRZ, in a VERY LOOSE way, is closer to a general aviation plane where the stability is built into the aerodynamics of the airplane. Let go of the controls and they will tend to stabilize in flight.

Good analogy! I think I'd prefer the dynamics of the FR-S, too. However I'm getting a BRZ, so I'll tweak my suspension to my own liking.

[fatoni]

Originally Posted by Dadhawk

I agree with your assessment on this. The difference in the equipment between the FR-S and the BRZ (for me) is meaningless because I don't care about it. If I did, the BRZ is the better value. Also, the BRZ is about the price point I was looking at, and the FR-S met it.

I also happen to fall into the group that prefers the driving characteristics of the FR-S. Reminds me of a current age fighter plane. Fighters are good at what they do because they are naturally unstable. It's the combination of the flight computers and the pilot that make them perform.

If an F-22 had the equivalent of a "hold the sport button down for 3 seconds" mode, it would basically be unflyable by most pilots.

The BRZ, in a VERY LOOSE way, is closer to a general aviation plane where the stability is built into the aerodynamics of the airplane. Let go of the controls and they will tend to stabilize in flight.

would it follow that the gtr and evox are even better sports cars due to the complexity of suspension and computer controls? i doubt either of you are for getting rid of the conventional mt but that would follow this analogy

[Dadhawk]

Originally Posted by fatoni

would it follow that the gtr and evox are even better sports cars due to the complexity of suspension and computer controls? i doubt either of you are for getting rid of the conventional mt but that would follow this analogy

I suppose, I was really just comparing the twins, and nothing else. I don't think it makes one better than the other, it just makes them different. Some will like one setup, some will like another and some will not be able to tell the difference.

Oh, and I did replace the MT, since I bought the AT.